Biopolymers and cell. 2003; 19 (2): 169 - 178

Organ-specific and light-inducible expression of genes in transgenic plants: receiving and cloning root-, tuber- and leaf-specific promoters

L. G. Ljoshina, T. V. Medvedeva, O. V. Bulko, A. P. Galkln, V. P. Kukhar

In this study the regulatory sequences ensuring organ-specific and light-dependent expression of several chimerical genes in bacterial and plant cells have been received and investigated. A fragment corresponding to the 5'-end sequence of the chloroplast ribosomal gene S12 (rpS12), a regulatory fragment of the patatin gene λpatl22, a promoter sequence of the gene of small subunit of ribulose-I,5-disphosphate carboxylase (rbcS3A) have been extracted and cloned in vectors containing marker genes. The organ-specific activity of the cloned promoters has been shown. The metallo-thioneine gene has been introduced into the vector constructed. The increased ability of transgenic plants to accumulate the ions of heavy metals in organ's cells with selective promoter-induced expression of the metallothioneine gene has been demonstrated.